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Staff at checkpoints across the country detected 3,391 firearms in carry-on bags, a rate of nine guns a day, in 2016.

These detection numbers were a 28 per cent increase on 2015 where 2,653 were found.

In addition to screening the passengers, 466million checked bags and 24.2million airport employees were also monitored.

In 2016 the TSA detected 28 per cent more firearms than in 2015

For the third year running, the top five airports for guns being found in hand luggage contained the same names - though not in the same order.

Last year Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International saw the most passengers in the country with guns in their hand luggage with 198 firearms seized.

In second place was Dallas/Fort Worth International with 192 weapons detected, followed by George Bush Intercontinental at Houston where 128 were found.

Rounding out the top five is Phoenix Sky Harbor International with 101 guns and Denver International with 98.

TOP 10 AIRPORTS FOR FIREARMS DISCOVERY

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):198

2. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): 192

3. George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Houston (IAH):128

4. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX):101

5. Denver International (DEN): 98

6. Orlando International Airport (MCO):86

7. Nashville International (BNA):80

8. Tampa International (TPA):79

9. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS):78

10. Salt Lake City International (SLC):75

Source: TSA

Showing the most improvement of all US airports was Greater Rochester International Airport where no travellers brought firearms to the airport’s checkpoint in 2016 compared to five in 2015.

Conversely, Buffalo-Niagara International Airport seized six guns in 2016 compared to just two detected in 2015.

Transportation Security Administration rules prohibit guns in carry-on bags, but they allow passengers to ship guns if they are unloaded, put in a hard-sided, locked container that only the owner has the ability to unlock, and placed in a checked bag.

Explosive or flammable ammunition such as gun powder is banned, but bullets are legal if carried in checked baggage.

Firearms are not the only shocking finds discovered by officials in fliers' hand luggage.

MailOnline recently reported that TSA has shared the ten most unusual finds at checkpoints in 2016, with a bright pink gun, replica suicide vest and fake corpse among the more surprising items.